Cylindrical pill dispenser and related methods of use

Abstract

A pill dispenser includes an outer body for displaying one or more pills within the dispenser. A core is disposed within the outer body, and the core includes a channel extending along a length of the outer body to store the one or more pills within the channel. The pill dispenser further includes an actuator with a slot, and the actuator is joined to the outer body at a first end and rotatable about the core from a storage position to a dispensing position with the slot aligned with the channel. An actuator cover is joined to the actuator and includes an opening configured to align with the slot when the actuator is in the storage position.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An apparatus for dispensing pills, comprising:
 an outer body comprising a set of outer windows for displaying one or more pills within the dispenser; 
 a core disposed within the outer body, the core including a plurality of channels to store the one or more pills, wherein the channels extend along the length of the outer body; 
 a calendar sleeve placed between the outer body and the core, wherein the calendar sleeve includes a column of pill windows and a day indicator associated with each window in the column of windows, wherein the column of windows aligns with at least some of the outer windows on the outer body and further aligns with one of the channels in the core; 
 an actuator including a slot, the actuator joined to the outer body at a first end and rotatable about the core from a storage position to a first dispensing position with the slot aligned with a first channel, and rotatable from the storage position to a second dispensing position with the slot aligned with a second channel; and 
 an actuator cover joined to the actuator and including an opening configured to align with the slot when the actuator is in the storage position. 
 
     
     
       2. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the actuator is rotatable in a first direction to the first dispensing position and rotatable in an opposite direction to the second dispensing position. 
     
     
       3. The apparatus of  claim 1 , comprising two springs disposed within a circumferential groove in the actuator, each spring extending in opposing circumferential directions. 
     
     
       4. The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein each of the springs returns the actuator to the storage position after being rotated to the first or second dispensing positions. 
     
     
       5. A dispenser, comprising:
 an outer body to display one or more pills within the dispenser; 
 a core disposed within the outer body, the core including a channel extending along a length of the outer body to store the one or more pills within the channel; 
 an actuator including a slot, the actuator joined to the outer body at a first end and rotatable about the core from a storage position to a dispensing position with the slot aligned with the channel; and 
 an actuator cover joined to the actuator and including an opening configured to align with the slot when the actuator is in the storage position, 
 wherein the outer body includes a first column of outer windows that are configured to be aligned with the channel of the core, wherein the outer windows are configured to display the one or more pills therethrough. 
 
     
     
       6. The dispenser of  claim 5 , wherein the stored pills are dispensed through the actuator slot and the opening of the actuator cover. 
     
     
       7. The dispenser  claim 5 , wherein the dispenser is configured to be tilted to dispense a single pill from the stored one or more pills. 
     
     
       8. The dispenser of  claim 5 , wherein the outer body includes a second column of outer windows that are configured to display an indicator proximate each window of the first column of outer windows. 
     
     
       9. The dispenser of  claim 5 , wherein the core includes a plurality of channels extending along a length of the outer body, the plurality of channels spaced apart about the circumference of the core, each configured to store one or more pills. 
     
     
       10. The dispenser of  claim 5 , wherein the groove includes a recess to receive a nub disposed on a corresponding side of the actuator cover. 
     
     
       11. The dispenser of  claim 5 , wherein the actuator cover includes a locking rod that is inserted into an aperture within the actuator. 
     
     
       12. The dispenser of  claim 5 , wherein the actuator includes a groove, wherein at least one spring is disposed within the groove. 
     
     
       13. The dispenser of  claim 12 , wherein the spring is configured to return the actuator to a storage position after the actuator is rotated to the dispensing position. 
     
     
       14. A dispenser, comprising:
 an outer body to display one or more pills within the dispenser; 
 a core disposed within the outer body, the core including a channel extending along a length of the outer body to store the one or more pills within the channel; 
 an actuator including a slot, the actuator joined to the outer body at a first end and rotatable about the core from a storage position to a dispensing position with the slot aligned with the channel; 
 an actuator cover joined to the actuator and including an opening configured to align with the slot when the actuator is in the storage position, and 
 a calendar sleeve disposed between the outer body and the core, the calendar sleeve including one or more columns of pill windows and an indicator disposed proximate each pill window. 
 
     
     
       15. The dispenser of  claim 14 , wherein the outer body comprises:
 a first column of outer windows configured to be aligned with one of the columns of pill windows; and 
 a second column of outer windows configured to be aligned with the corresponding indicators of the pill windows. 
 
     
     
       16. The dispenser of  claim 14 , wherein the calendar sleeve includes teeth configured to engage corresponding teeth of the outer body. 
     
     
       17. The dispenser of  claim 16 , wherein the calendar sleeve is rotatable within the outer body when the teeth are disengaged from the corresponding teeth of the outer body. 
     
     
       18. A dispenser, comprising:
 an outer body to display one or more pills within the dispenser; 
 a core disposed within the outer body, the core including a channel extending along a length of the outer body to store the one or more pills within the channel; 
 an actuator including a slot, the actuator joined to the outer body at a first end and rotatable about the core from a storage position to a dispensing position with the slot aligned with the channel; 
 an actuator cover joined to the actuator and including an opening configured to align with the slot when the actuator is in the storage position; 
 a shaft disposed within the core; and 
 a knob configured to engage with the core proximate an opposing end of the outer body and releasably engage with the shaft. 
 
     
     
       19. The dispenser of  claim 18 , wherein the actuator cover engages the shaft at the first end of the dispenser. 
     
     
       20. The dispenser of  claim 18 , wherein, when the knob is disengaged from the shaft, the knob is rotatable by a user to rotate the core to align a selected channel with the actuator's slot when the actuator is in a dispensing position. 
     
     
       21. The dispenser of  claim 18 , wherein the shaft includes teeth spaced circumferentially around the shaft and protruding radially therefrom. 
     
     
       22. The dispenser of  claim 21 , wherein the knob includes teeth configured to be releasably engaged with the teeth spaced circumferentially around the shaft.